SAHS's Bartlett Recognized as 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Finalist

STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL -- April 11, 2025 -- Advancing from a pool of 142 candidates from across the state, Stillwater Area High School's Stacy Bartlett has been named a finalist for 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

One of 12 finalists, Bartlett has been teaching for 29 years and first joined Stillwater Schools in 2012, where she serves as a general biology teacher for grades 10-12.  

"Honestly, it means that someone took a moment to, in this particular way, positively recognize the hard work and passion that goes into teaching," Bartlett said when asked what it meant to be nominated. "The truth is, educators serve absolutely invaluable roles in society."

The original 142 nominees for the 2025 award were first narrowed to a group of 31 semifinalists. An independent selection panel of 21 leaders in the areas of education, business, government, and nonprofits then recently narrowed to these 12 finalists. 

Dating back to the first award in 1964, Bartlett looks to become the second Stillwater educator to be named Minnesota Teacher of the Year, and first since Derek Olson in 2008. This year, Bartlett was joined by Lake Elmo Elementary's Hannah Reyes as nominees representing the Stillwater Area School District. 

Prior to the announcement of this year's honoree at the Sunday, May 4 banquet at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, the selection panel meets again on Saturday, May 3 to conduct individual interviews with each of the 12 finalists and casts votes for the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Banquet tickets can be purchased online here.

"Every single one of us got to where we are because of a teacher. And every single one of us can name a teacher - or many - that changed our lives for the better," said Bartlett. "One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is receiving feedback - whether it's a "thank you" as a student leaves class, the moment a kid visibly "gets it" and wants to know more, an email, a confided vulnerability, an improved grade, a visit from a former student, or a public acknowledgement - that lets us know that what we do has made a difference." 

Education Minnesota, the statewide educators union, organizes and underwrites the Teacher of the Year program. Candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools. Find a complete list of the 12 finalists and learn more about how the selection process works on the Education Minnesota website.

ABOUT EDUCATION MINNESOTA
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota's members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota's public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota's community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.

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